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DISCOVERING AMERICA
(1958-1963)
1958
To an Unknown Advisor1*
November 1958
I think it is very rude to write to you [so] abruptly, [particularly] while I am a stranger to you. So, by this letter, I’m obliged to introduce myself to you. To begin with, my name is Lee Shiu Loong (Bruce).2 My father, Lee Hoi Chuen, is a friend of your father and I am very grateful that your mother advised me to write this letter to you to ask you some advice. Because you are so much experienced in your subject which you are now studying, and I, too, intend to study medicine or pharmacy in the future, I would like very much that you can solve my problems and I hope that you don’t find it troublesome. At present, I am a student of S.F.X. (F.4).3 I planned to come to the States next year and finish High School, I intend to take medicine. As I am ignorant on that subject, can you please explain to me the qualifications of being a doctor or pharmacist step-by-step?
Bruce Lee’s registration card from St. Francis Xavier College, in Hong Kong.
Now I don’t even have the slightest idea of that subject. Do you think I can succeed when, at present, I don’t know anything about it? Lastly, with all my heart, I do pray you to keep a close intimacy with me, in future.
Thank you very much.
I am truly yours,
Bruce Lee
1959
A Letter to an Unknown Friend4
April 29, 1959
The first friend I met after boarding the ship, turned out to be an Indian person. We had a nice time chatting. He asked me to teach him Cha-cha. After speaking for a while, he bumped into one of his friends, so I ended up alone by myself. So I returned to a room.
In this room I met with an elderly gentleman, Mr. Lok. Mr. Lok is a frequent traveler on these boats and he offered some pointers which I appreciated. I also met my school friend’s older brother, Mr. Chang. We basically did everything together (we went in and out, activities, and so on, together). This person studies choy lay fut boxing5 and has a definite interest and admiration for Wing Chun.6 We even came to agree to sight-see together in Japan.
Bruce Lee poses for a picture with his father; Lee Hoi Chuen (left), in Hong Kong.
When you go to the bar for drinks, even Coca-Cola costs money. To me, I’d rather drink faucet water. The funniest of all, is when I went to shower; I didn’t know that I could adjust the cold and hot water, so I only turned on the hot and it got hotter and hotter as I was showering until I couldn’t take it any more. Then I turned it all the way to the cold water until I got frozen. Later on, when I went to the room, someone instructed me—then I understood that there was a “middle” setting! After I got in bed, I felt my whole bed swaying—very uncomfortable. I hope it won’t make me sea-sick.
Right now it is 11:30 PM. I think I’d better sleep early, because tomorrow’s breakfast is at 8:30 AM.
Monday, May 4, 1959
“Open the door and you see the mountain”7
The problem with the above statement is that if you try to be too direct, things don’t turn out properly and it always backfires. The mouth says “yes,” but the heart says “no.”
Today is Monday the 4th. As the boat arrived to the shore, Peter8 came to receive me. Thanks to him, he took me on the train from Osaka directly to Tokyo for sightseeing.
Tokyo is really an extremely beautiful city. It’s as pretty as any Western country. I’ve never seen so much automobile traffic, it’s non-stop, pedestrians pushing and shoving, and the city is full of excitement.
The very colorful neon lights are constantly flickering and changing, showing plenty of images. Compared to Hong Kong, Hong Kong falls way behind!
After meeting with Peter’s friends, they invited me to eat Japanese style chicken and rice—the taste is fabulous. Later on, I exchanged my Hong Kong dollars and bought a pair of shoes (very low price), three thick terry-cloth shirts and some scenic photos. Later on, they took me to listen to a music lounge. After listening to the music, we took the train back to the boat at approximately 10:30 PM.
Today is Tuesday, May 5th. I believe Peter has already gone back to Hong Kong. Now I’m left alone, all by myself with nothing to do. In the afternoon, I will leave the boat with some friends I’ve met on the boat for a little while to buy some souvenirs. At around 3:00 PM, we went ashore. There were two Americans who live in our cabin room; one is around 30 years old, the other around 25. Both are studying law. We chit-chatted a little while and then I decided to pen you this letter.
Now the boat has pulled out, so I will put away my pen. The reason is because when the boat is sailing, the ocean has become rough with big waves and the ship is very rocky—to the point in the evening there was a dance, but nobody could dance as liquor bottles were falling all over the place. I would think that after getting to bed tonight I’ll have a hard time getting up tomorrow. Luckily I brought some sea-sickness pills. Tomorrow, on the 6th, I will only feel a little dizziness.
Most of my dining companions couldn’t make it up to the upper deck dining area. Today the band on board asked me to teach cha-cha. After I taught for 15 minutes, there came a life saving demonstration. Everybody has to go below on deck and put on their life-jackets. This is very bothersome!
To Melvin Dong
[upon Bruce Lee’s arrival in San Francisco]9
May 17, 1959
Melvin,
The boat arrived in Honolulu. I’m very disappointed to find out that you guys have not dared to write to me.
Later, in the midst of not knowing what to do, suddenly a fellow passenger carrying a picture came looking for me, saying “Someone is waiting for you down below the deck.” By the time I got to the gate I noticed a lady and a gentleman waiting for me, one of them was called “Older Sister” and the other was called “Little Older Brother.”10 Both were sent by the Chinese Club troupe to come and meet with me.
They took me around to many places sightseeing, later on we ran into two people, Chang Ki-ming and Chil Lai Cheung. According to the two people, Chil Lai Cheung has a weird temper, but after I met them, he loved talking with me very much. I know nothing about him other than that he told me he has collected thousands upon thousands of L.P records. I resorted to saying that in Hong Kong, I also listened to a lot of albums. He also complained of his own shortcoming of being hard to get along with, and how his mistress had sold his Shatin11 vacation house, etc. Then he proceeded to ask about the well being of Papa. He said that in the future he would return to Hong Kong, given the opportunity. But this individual does not trust anybody at all. He handles all his business personally. Why would he ever leave the whole business behind for someone else to manage?
That evening, they also introduced me to a Mr. Tang. This Mr. Tang person is very wealthy. He and I hit it off right away, like we’d known each other forever. He studies Hung style boxing and loves the National Art.12 He envies my skill and knowledge of Wing Chun and hopes that I can stay longer in Hawaii to teach him boxing, and to find a school for me to teach at.
Later on he invited me to the World’s largest Chinese restaurant and nightclub for dinner. One bowl of shark fin soup is already US $25! I think after eating it this time I, myself, will never have an opportunity to eat another US $25 gourmet dish again.
Tell “Pretty Boy Dog” that I bought two tricks for him. I’ll wait until I arrive in San Francisco to mail them to him! But in the meantime, it is alright for you to tell him.
This letter was written and mailed immediately after the boat arrived in San Francisco. I really wish that all of you would write many letters to me so I won’t have to keep wondering about you guys.
1960
To Hawkins Cheung13 in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Posted from Seattle, Washington
May 16, 1960
Dear Hawkins,
I see that I am in your bad books through negligence in writing to you and do not know how to apologize sufficiently for the neglect. First of all, Hawkins, I must thank you for your welcome letter.
Hawkins, I am really truly sorry about your sickness, but, please do listen to me, it’s no use to become nervous and fidgety; remember that it won’t help but just de-improve the illness. Hawkins, I hope you will be better soon. Meanwhile, take it easy.
I admit that it’s good to practice Wing Chun. To be perfectly frank, I practice quite a lot on it nowadays (the wooden dummy has been shipped to me from Hong Kong already). But, as for you, I advise you to quit it for the time being and wait till you get better.
At present, I’m still going to the Edison High school, and will be graduated this summer. I plan to go to the University next year, that is, 1961. Well! I still don’t know what I’m going to major in, but when I find out I’ll write to you again. Now I find out that all those stuffs like Wing Chun, cha-cha are just for killing time and have a little fun out of it, and that study always comes first. Yes, that’s right, your own future depends on how well you have studied.
Now I am really on my own. Since the day I stepped into this country, I didn’t spend any money from my father. Now I am working as a waiter for a part time job after school. I’m telling you it’s tough, boy! I always have a heck of a time!
I didn’t do much for my spare time except studying and practicing Wing Chun (for good, of course!). Now and then, a South American would come and teach me some of his terrific fancy steps and have mine in return. His steps are really wonderful and exotic, and how cute it is! I tell you what, Hawkins, when you get well I’ll do my best and draw the steps on a piece of paper and teach you. All right?
Say, you still hang around with those guys, if you see Pip, please give her my best regards. In the meantime, please ask Richard to write me and tell him that I have lost his address.
Well, my friend, lots of luck to you and do get well soon.
Your friend,
Bruce
To a “Dear Young Lady”14
The mid-Autumn Festival being over. The cycle of the year once again has brought us to the colorful and sentimental days of Fall.
R, how could we let the valuable but short Autumn days slip away without doing them full justice? I often go to the movies these days. I need them for their soothing and inspiring qualities. So, write me a letter [indicating] which one you haven’t seen and I’ll invite you to see it this Sunday. That will suit you, won’t it, my dear young lady?
With my best wishes for all kinds of luck,
I am,
Bruce
To Dianne15
Dianne,
To be fond of learning is to be near knowledge. To practice with vigor is to be near to magnanimity. To possess the feeling of shame is to be near energy.
Love,
Bruce
1961
To Ed Hart16
March 1961
Dear Ed,
I am sorry that I didn’t write till now as I was very busy straightening up my entrance requirements for the University of Washington. Now everything is all right. I am being admitted for the Spring quarter, which will start the 27th of this month.
Ed, we miss you very much here, especially I, for having lost a good writer. But, of course, it’s for our friendship that I really miss you most. Ed, do your best and save up some money and come back to us.
We have given quite a number of exhibitions, and I have appeared on TV twice with Fook Young.
We might give an exhibition on April 8th for the Highline High School. Right now, everybody is practicing hard for it. I have ten students so far and the club is taking shape. Maybe [in] two more months, it will be opened to the public.
I am beginning to teach sparring to the students, and am doing my best to train their kicking technique. Jesse17 is still the outstanding one among the students, though he is not so limber in his legs.
You know something?—It’s a surprise!—I am going to take up judo in the University for the physical education requirement. Shuso is teaching there.
Well! Ed, write soon, and I promise I’ll write back on time.
Your teacher and friend,
Bruce
To Ed Hart, Brooklyn, New York
Posted from Seattle
May 1961
Dear Ed,
We were talking about you yesterday when I received your letter. Is it true that you are planning to come back?
Jesse is all right and is now living in Chinatown at the Green Hotel. I guess you know that he has been promoted to a black belt. At present he works for Roy Garcia during the weekend. He is going to Edison now.
I don’t have the club anymore; in fact, we still owe $80 for it, as everybody is out of a job and couldn’t keep it up. Also, I have stopped teaching as I have to have a part time job to tide me over my financial problem.
The fellows are planning to pay me for lessons which might be able to work out as a part-time job for me.
Ed, one thing I want you to know is we all miss you very much and hope that you will join us in the very near future. I don’t know how to describe it in words, as my English is not so good, so I only say that I am proud to have a friend like you and I miss you very much, and I hope that you can come back to Seattle.
Your friend always,
Bruce
1962
To Pearl Tso18
September 1962
Dear Pearl,
This letter is hard to understand. It contains my dreams and my ways of thinking. As a whole, you can call it my way of life. It will be rather confusing as it is difficult to write down exactly how I feel. Yet I want to write and let you know about it. I’ll do my best to write it clearly and I hope that you, too, will keep an open mind in this letter, and don’t arrive at any conclusions till you are finished.
Gung fu is the best of all martial art; yet the Chinese derivatives of judo and karate, which are only basics of gung fu, are flourishing all over the U.S.... because no one has heard of this supreme art [and] there are no competent instructors .... I believe my long years of practice back up my title to become the first instructor of this movement
There are two ways of making a good living. One is the result of hard working, and the other, the result of the imagination (requires work, too, of course). It is a fact that labor and thrift produce a competence, but fortune, in the sense of wealth, is the reward of the man who can think of something that hasn’t been thought of before. In every industry, in every profession, ideas are what America is looking for. Ideas have made America what she is, and one good idea will make a man what he wants to be.
One part of my life is gung fu. This art influences [me] greatly in the formation of my character and ideas. I practice gung fu as a physical culture, a form of mental training, a method of self-defense, and a way of life. Gung fu is the best of all martial art; yet the Chinese derivatives of judo and karate, which are only basics of gung fu, are flourishing all over the U.S. This so happens because no one has heard of this supreme art; also there are no competent instructors... I believe my long years of practice back up my title to become the first instructor of this movement. There are yet long years ahead of me to polish my techniques and character. My aim, therefore, is to establish a first Gung Fu Institute that will later spread out all over the U.S. (I have set a time limit of 10 to 15 years to complete the whole project). My reason in doing this is not the sole objective of making money. The motives are many and among them are: I like to let the world know about the greatness of this Chinese art; I enjoy teaching and helping people; I like to have a well-to-do home for my family; I like to originate something; and the last but yet one of the most important is because gung fu is part of myself.
I know my idea is right, and, therefore, the results would be satisfactory. I don’t really worry about the reward, but to set in motion the machinery to achieve it. My contribution will be the measure of my reward and success.
Before he passed away, some asked the late Dr. Charles E Steinmetz, the electrical genius, in his opinion “What branch of science would make the most progress in the next twenty-five years?” He paused and thought for several minutes then like a flash replied, “spiritual realization?” When man comes to a conscious vital realization of those great spiritual forces within himself and begins to use those forces in science, in business, and in life, his progress in the future will be unparalleled.
I feel I have this great creative and spiritual force within me that is greater than faith, greater than ambition, greater than confidence, greater than determination, greater than vision. It is all these combined. My brain becomes magnetized with this dominating force which I hold in my hand.
When you drop a pebble into a pool of water, the pebble starts a series of ripples that expand until they encompass the whole pool. This is exactly what will happen when I give my ideas a definite plan of action. Right now, I can project my thoughts into the future, I can see ahead of me. I dream (remember that practical dreamers never quit). I may now own nothing but a little place down in a basement, but once my imagination has got up a full head of steam, I can see painted on a canvas of my mind a picture of a fine, big five or six story Gung Fu Institute with branches all over the States. I am not easily discouraged, readily visualize myself as overcoming obstacles, winning out over setbacks, achieving “impossible” objectives.
Lee seemed always to have a pen in his hand—even during the filming of Enter the Dragon.
Whether it is the God-head or not, I feel this great force, this untapped power, this dynamic something within me. This feeling defies description, and [there is] no experience with which this feeling may be compared. It is something like a strong emotion mixed with faith, but a lot stronger.
All in all, the goal of my planning and doing is to find the true meaning in life—peace of mind. I know that the sum of all possessions I mentioned does not necessarily add up to peace of mind; however, it can be if I devote [my energy] to real accomplishment of self rather than neurotic combat. In order to achieve this peace of mind, the teaching of detachment of Taoism and Zen proved to be valuable ....
Probably, people will say I’m too conscious of success. Well, I am not. You see, my will to do springs from the knowledge that I CAN DO. I’m only being natural, for there is no fear or doubt inside my mind.
Pearl, success comes to those who become success-conscious. If you don’t aim at an object, how the heck on earth do you think you can get it?
Warm regards,
Bruce
1963
To Linda19
Oct. 20, 1963
To the sweetest girl, from the man who appreciates her.
Linda,
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In other words, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
Bruce
Notes
1. It is uncertain to whom Bruce Lee addressed this letter as all that remains is his first draft. However; given that he was in Saint Francis Xavier High School when it was written, and upon checking his daytime diary for November 30, 1958, we find the following entry—“Now I try to find out my career—whether as a doctor or another? If as a doctor I must study hard”—it is safe to assume that this letter was penned during this period of his life.
2. Lee Shiu Loong (or Lee Shiu Lung) literally translates as “Lee Little Dragon” (the surname always comes first in Chinese).This was the “stage name” given to Bruce when he first appeared in Hong Kong films. Bruce’s birth name was Lee Jun Fan, and in his early school years he was called Lee Yuen Kam. At home with his family, Bruce’s nickname was Sai Fon, literally “Little Phoenix.” The English name Bruce was given to him by a nurse when he was born, but he did not use this name until after the age of twelve, when he attended a school where English was spoken.
3. Bruce Lee attended Saint Francis Xavier High School in Hong Kong during 1958, one year before he set out on his return to America.
4. Bruce Lee began to write this letter to a friend in Hong Kong to tell him of his experiences on the boat that was taking him to America for the first time since he was born there on November 27, 1940, some eighteen years earlier. This letter is fascinating in that it serves as a diary of sorts, written on the first day of his voyage, wherein he records his feelings and experiences on what would eventually prove to be a highly significant journey.
5. Choy li fut gung fu is considered one of the most popular gung fu systems in Asia. It is practiced by approximately one-third of the martial artists in Hong Kong and is famous for combining hard and soft techniques, speed, balance, power, and extension. In her book The Complete Guide to Kung Fu Fighting Styles (Burbank, Calif: Unique Publications, 1985), authority Jane Hallander writes, “Not only does the style contain a vast variety of hand and weapons forms, but many of the top full-contact tournament fighters in Southeast Asia are choy-li-fut practitioners, a fact that supports the art’s reputation as one of the most powerful kung fu styles in existence.”
6. Wing Chun gung fu is considered highly aggressive. It focuses on centerline attacks, wasting no effort and using blocks to redirect the opponent’s strikes, so that the Wing Chun practitioner can counterattack with either his blocking hand or the other hand in a very close-in position. Since the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, there are no “curved” movements in the Wing Chun style that was taught to Bruce Lee. Sixty percent of attacking techniques are hand techniques and the other forty percent consists of short low kicks, hand and foot techniques being delivered simultaneously. Wing Chun was the only martial art that Bruce Lee studied formally. which he did under renowned Wing Chun grandmaster Yip Man from 1954 until Bruce departed from Hong Kong on April 29, 1959.
7. A famous Chinese saying denoting a person who gives direct and frank opinions.
8. Bruce’s older brother.
9. Melvin Dong was a friend during Bruce Lee’s teenage years in Hong Kong.
10. Bruce’s parents had contacts among overseas Chinese in the performing arts.
11. Shatin is an area in Hong Kong’s New Territories.
12. “National Art” is another name for “gung fu.”
13. Hawkins Cheung was one of Yip Man’s senior Wing Chun students, who trained at Yip Man’s kwoon in Hong Kong while Bruce Lee was training there in the 1950s.
14. The name of the recipient of this letter is unknown. This first draft was found in one of Bruce Lee’s earliest notebooks from Seattle, written while he was completing his high school requirements.
15. “Dianne” was evidently one of Bruce’s classmates at Edison Technical School.
16. Ed Hart was Bruce Lee’s second private student in Seattle. The letters to Hart were written by Lee while Hart was in New York for several months.
17. Jesse Glover was Bruce Lee’s first student in America.
18. The Tso family and Bruce Lee’s family were close friends when Bruce lived in Hong Kong during the 1950s, and they remained friends throughout his life. Mrs. Tso, Pearl’s mother, was like a second mother to him, and he often sought her advice, In fact, he wrote her frequently to inform her of his progress in America. The two friends exchanged letters and postcards, some of which were brief and aphoristic, while others, such as the letter reprinted here, were much more soulful and in-depth.
19. “Linda” is Linda Emery. who would become Bruce Lee’s wife on August 17, 1964. This letter was written just five days before their first “official” date, which, as she recalls, took place on October 25, 1963.
